Foreign registration · Form 972

Wisconsin LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

Louisiana registers an LLC from Wisconsin as a foreign LLC on Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also asks for Wisconsin's Certificate of Status ($10), no older than 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division from your Wisconsin records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

What Wisconsin and Louisiana each ask for

	Wisconsin formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	Wisconsin Certificate of Status	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$10	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Wisconsin: online, emailed as soon as it is requested	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	dfi.wi.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report (Form 5 / CORP5), $25, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	End of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your Wisconsin registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

From Wisconsin to Louisiana, step by step

Order the Wisconsin certificate
The Certificate of Status ($10) is ordered from Wisconsin separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. Ordered from Wisconsin on filing day, it easily meets Louisiana's limit of 90 days.
We prepare and file Form 972
It lists us as your Louisiana registered agent, next to your Wisconsin name and formation date, with the certificate attached. With the certificate issued on the spot, nothing from Wisconsin delays the Louisiana filing. After approval, your Wisconsin LLC is registered with Louisiana.

Louisiana costs for Wisconsin companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Status, paid to Wisconsin	$10
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Wisconsin certificate included	$399

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your Wisconsin name work for Louisiana?

We check your exact Wisconsin name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Agents: Louisiana and Wisconsin

Wisconsin and Louisiana both call it a registered agent. Louisiana papers come to us; Wisconsin's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Wisconsin and Louisiana

Each year your LLC files Wisconsin's Annual Report (Form 5 / CORP5) ($25) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Wisconsin plus Louisiana comes to $209 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Wisconsin to Louisiana

A corporation formed in Wisconsin files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come Wisconsin's Domestic Business Corporation Annual Report ($25) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

The other way: Louisiana into Wisconsin

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with Wisconsin files Form 521 with $100 in state fees; no Louisiana certificate is needed. See that filing.

Common questions: Wisconsin to Louisiana

Does my Wisconsin company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a Wisconsin business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a Wisconsin LLC in Louisiana?

$389 at checkout plus $10 to Wisconsin for the Certificate of Status, $399 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Wisconsin's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants Wisconsin's Certificate of Status ($10), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Wisconsin and Louisiana?

$209 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $25 to Wisconsin and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A Wisconsin company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the Wisconsin registered agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but Wisconsin keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps Wisconsin's Annual Report (Form 5 / CORP5).

What does a Louisiana company file to register in Wisconsin?

It files Form 521 with $100 in state fees.

Official sources

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